On the Cusp of Free Agency: Batum Declines Option but Poised to Stay with Clippers

Nicolas Batum, a forward for the LA Clippers, has opted not to take his $4.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season and will enter free agency, as reported by ESPN. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that he will continue with the team.

The Clippers have the option to initiate Batum’s new contract at $5.6 million, which represents 120% of his salary from the 2024-25 season, or they can utilize part of their $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

With 17 seasons under his belt in the NBA, Batum has suggested that the upcoming season may be his final one, having already stepped away from representing the French national team following the Paris Olympics.

Last season, the 36-year-old French forward averaged less than 18 minutes of play per game for the Clippers, participating in 78 games with eight starts.

Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ President of Basketball Operations, expressed ahead of the offseason that the organization is “1,000 percent” hoping for Batum’s return for the 2025-26 season.